STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Novo licensing a Chinese obesity pill, Merck pulling an antibiotic, and more

Good morning and a fine day it is. As the sun shines and birds chirp, Pharmalot is brewing another cup of coffee to keep us inspired. Today's selection is pecan pie, a sweet treat for the palate. Our latest collection of news is ready for perusal, and we hope you have a wonderful day ahead.

Novo is set to pay up to $2.6 billion for the rights to a weekly weight loss pill from Chinese company Hengrui Pharma, according to The Financial Times. This move is Novo's second licensing agreement in recent times, following their pledge to increase growth with new drugs announced at their investor day last week. With rival Eli Lilly dominating the oral obesity drug market, Novo aims to regain its lost ground with this new entrant.

Analysts view the weekly pill as a significant addition to the market, as it offers patients an alternative to monthly injections. Meanwhile, Roche has discontinued work on one of its obesity drug candidates after clinical trial data revealed it did not meet internal targets. The company returned the rights to its obesity drug, emugrobart, to partner Chugai Pharmaceutical, originally discovered and licensed by Roche.

Roche's portfolio includes two obesity injections and a pill, all showing potential to generate sales exceeding $3.6 billion in peak sales. The company remains committed to expanding its offerings in the obesity drug market, with multiple developments in progress. Stay tuned for more updates on STAT+.